Sinatra & Basie [Import]

Frank Sinatra, Count Basie | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Warner Bros UK
• ASIN: B000002K9B
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,192 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #26 in Music > Imports > Blues
  • #56 in Music > Imports > Broadway & Vocalists

Track Listings

1. Pennies from Heaven

2. Please Be Kind

3. (Love Is) The Tender Trap

4. Looking at the World Through Rose Colored Glasses

5. My Kind of Girl

6. I Only Have Eyes for You

7. Nice Work if You Can Get It

8. Learnin' the Blues

9. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)

10. I Won't Dance

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The first of three albums that Frank Sinatra recorded with swing legend Count Basie, Sinatra-Basie is also the best. Sinatra's voice doesn't sound in great shape, but he pushes himself throughout to keep up with the jazzy twists and turns of Basie's band; the resulting tension makes for a thrilling listening experience, especially for those who think of Sinatra as more of a saloon balladeer than a jazz singer. "Learnin' the Blues," "I Only Have Eyes for You" and "(Love Is) the Tender Trap" are the highlights of the set, but all ten of the tracks are winners. --Dan Epstein

Product Description

Out of print in the U.S.! Originally released in 1962, Sinatra-Basie was the first of three albums that Frank Sinatra recorded with Swing legend Count Basie, and is also the best. On this album, Sinatra sounds more liberated and energetic than he has in years, while the duo's collaboration raised Basie's profile to a level of popularity he had never attained before. 10 tracks including 'Pennies From Heaven', 'I Only Have Eyes For You' and '(Love Is) The Tender Trap'. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable Sinatra, May 4, 2000

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sinatra & Basie (Audio CD)

If I had to pick my favorite of all of Sinatra's albums, this would be a strong contender. It's the one that hooked me on the swingingest vocalist of all time (Sonny Payne, Basie's legendary drummer, once said Frank was the only singer who could make him swing) at a time when my college roommates were into Beatlemania. From the very first song, "Pennies from Heaven," especially after his melodic alteration of the second chorus, you'll understand why Sinatra was winning all of the Downbeat jazz polls at this time. There's the bel canto, "operatic" Sinatra (try "The Concert Sinatra"); the intimate, torch-singing Sinatra (try "Only the Lonely"; the swinging Sinatra, whose affinities are with the greatest jazz instrumentalists ever. If you want the best representation of this third Sinatra, no album of Frank's (even "Songs for Swinging Lovers") can top this one, the first recorded love affair between Sinatra and Basie. The bit of roughness in the voice here no distraction (as it is on "The Main Event")-- merely an expressive "edge" (like a Coleman Hawkins' sax solo).

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ULTIMATE "swinging" Sinatra!, August 25, 2001

By 

Joel L. Gandelman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sinatra & Basie (Audio CD)

OK, so various professional and non-professional reviewers note that in this collection, the first of three sessions with the amazing Count Basie and his orchestra, Frank Sinatra's voice is a little gruff. According to one published account, he had been at a ball game the night before and had gotten carried away. Whether true or not, one thing is certain: this is an ESSENTIAL CD for ANYONE who wants to experience Frank Sinatra at his jazziest best. From the very first cut, Pennies from Heaven, the loving combination of the Basie organization and Sinatra produces a synthesis of punchy swing, awesome jazz "takes" on old classics -- that sound as good today as they day they were recorded. I literally had Pennies from Heaven, particularly Sinatra's second chorus, going through my head for DAYS after I heard it. And there isn't a bad cut on the CD. Each piece is a classic in sound, arrangement and phrasing. It was a best seller when it came out in 1963 and for good reason: here's Sinatra as the ultimate jazz singer, doing amazing variations on familiar melodies with one of the most crisp, "swinging" orchestras around. He had said he had waited years to do a recording with Basie and his joy shows. My favorite cuts (hard to choose) are Pennies from Heaven (the best version of this song ever recorded, and one that would win over high schoolers if played in a music class), My Kind of Girl, and Learnin' the Blues (a different arrangement than his earlier one). Oh, and yes: Sinatra's voice may NOT be as smooth as it is on some recordings. But even a "harsher" Sinatra was still better than other singers around -- and is still vintage Sinatra compared to some of his final (somewhat sad) recordings. This all-too-brief 10 piece collection is a MUST to anyone who wants to experience the 20th Century's greatest singer at his brassiest most swinging BEST.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sinatra with Basie, February 16, 2003

By 

Blueboy (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sinatra & Basie (Audio CD)

This is a must album for any Sinatra / Basie fan. I've been listening to this album for over 30 years and it's still one of my favorites. I literally wore out two vinyl albums and now have it on CD. Whenever I listen to other Sinatra studio albums with a few of these same tunes on them they sound flat. Basie's presence gives these songs a vibrant, jumping sound that's incredible. His big band pushes Frank and the result is just fantastic. Another Sinatra/Basie album titled,"It might as well be Swing" is a good follow up purchase to add to your collection. You can't go wrong with either album. I have swayed many of my past combo bandmembers into listneing to big bands by first turning them onto both of these albums. You won't be disappointed with either of these two Sinatra / Basie Cd's.